Hlo darlings

One of my imaginations at 3Am.

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A girl in her mid twenties walked into the huge Mansion, gleaming with happiness and excitement. She ran upstairs, towards the room in the furthest corner of the floor, ignoring the calls of her grandfather, grandma, Dad and Mom. They laughed seeing her excitement to meet her B Dad, to tell him about her achievement. Be it her achievements or her failures, her dilemmas or determination, her happiness or her sadness, she shares it with her B dad. And why not ? Her B dad also loves her a lot. He senses her problems, her wishes even before she voice them out.

It was not only the excitement to tell him about her achievement, she was never fond of them. She was an average student and she was happy with it. But this time, she had to achieve this trophy of university topper, to know about a certain girl whom she saw in a portrait made by him. He didn't want anyone to see it but she did. He put this condition infront of her to tell her more about the portrait and the girl.

She put the certificate infront of him and he smiled widely. He kept his hand on her head and then hugged her, appreciating her efforts. But then, his smile lessened as he sighed. He couldn't back out. Now he had to tell her the secret which he had buried in the deepest corner of his heart.

"Will you be able to believe what I will tell you, Riku ?" He asked her and she nodded instantly.

"You used to tell stories of fairies to me. I used to trust you, not because I was a child, but because you used to tell them. I still believe that there was a girl named cindrella, that there was once a long haired princess named Rapunzel, prisoned in a tower, and that, there is a fairy who comes to pick the broken teeth of children and give them a new one. How can I not trust you, B dad ?" Rikara asked and he just smiled. "Come with me." He side hugged her and both of them walked out of the mansion and then drove away.

"Why did you bring me here ?" Asked Riku standing at the bridge over the lake as he was smiling to himself looking at the crystal clear water. This place was indeed a heaven, away from the polluted city and venomous, selfish people of the city.

"Do you know why I love this place so much ?" He asked and Rikara nodded negatively. She could see him closing his blue eyes and then, his facial expressions changed. His wrinkled but handsome face had a glow and a smile played on his lips.

"Here, I saw HER for the first time." He said and then, descended down the bridge and sat on a bench followed by Rikara.

"Hey ! Excuse me ! Stop." He shouted to stop a girl who was roaming near the lake. She looked at him like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Are..are you talking to me ?" She asked but he didn't reply. He could see her face and her beautiful brown orbs as the light coming from the nearby electricity pole fell on them.

"Can you see someone else other than you and me ? And I'm not mad that I would talk to myself in the middle of the night." He said and tried to crack a joke, for the first time in his life. The girl was definitely creating havoc inside his rock hard heart. She was a beautiful magic.

"Who are you ?" She asked timidly and he couldn't help smiling, something that he had never done infront of anyone except his family.

"I'm Shivaay. I came here to... meet the kids." Shivaay said, not revealing the actual purpose of his visit to the orphanage. He did care about his impression on the girl, again, first time in his life.

"Ok." She said and turned around but he stopped her. "Hey ! What's your name ? And what are you doing here ?" He asked hesitantly. What if she misunderstood him to be some roadside romeo ? He became cautious, for the first time in his life.

"I'm Anika, I used to live here in the orphanage." Said Anika and flashed a beautiful smile that he couldn't help but capture it in his heart.

"Oh ! I'm sorry. But what are you doing here ? I mean it's too late and it's not safe to roam alone like this." He said and she smiled at his concern for a stranger.

"Until people like you still exist in this world and the people who want to save someone's life are safe, it's safe to roam like this." Said Anika to which he couldn't help but think about the actual purpose of his visit to the orphanage, which was to shift the orphanage and build a five star restaurant. Her innocence and her trust on him made his heart guilty all of a sudden. In that one moment he decided that this land was going to be reserved for this orphanage forever.

"O... ok. I should leave now. Bye." Shivaay said and moved away from there. Not that he didn't want to stay there and talk to her, but he couldn't control himself. He wanted to talk to his manager and to stop the paper work for taking over this land. He didn't want to break the trust that he saw in those brown orbs.

He lost a deal but he felf happy and contented for having maintained someone's blind trust. A deal worth 5000 crores felt as small as a dust particle infront of her smile. He drove towards the orphanage and immidiately rushed towards the lake behind it. As his heart wished, there she was, looking at the children play. He went towards her and she smiled.

"How are you ?" She asked as she saw him panting.

"Yes. Why are you standing here ?" Asked Shivaay. "I was just looking at these children. How innocent they are. For them, nothing is bad in this world. Everything is beautiful, every person is good and the world is full of happiness. Despite not having a family they are happy." She said and Shivaay looked at the children. This girl indeed was a magic who made him do the things he never did, not that he was complaining.

"They want to celebrate festivals, to study, to achieve big heights of success but they don't have money to do so. Still they are happy. And there are people who have everything, from money to power and a family, still they keep crying over trivial issues." She spoke and sighed. Then she looked at him and smiled widely, making him wander how positive she was.

"I'm so sorry for talking about such heavy matters. So, what brings you here ?" She asked cheerfully and he couldn't help falling for her at the way she changed the atmosphere from serious to happy one.

"I just wanted to meet... the kids and.. you." He spoke, making her look at him keenly, to infer from his facial expressions if he was saying the truth or just joking. But to her surprise, there was not even a slightest hint that he was joking. His hypnotising gaze was doing something to her heart and the only option she had was to avert her gaze.

Shivaay messaged khanna to bring a lots of chocolates to the orphanage and arrange a tutor for the children who would teach them until he arranges a permanent source of education for them and take over this orphanage but this time, to take care of it and not to break it.

They sat there, talking for God knows how many hours. Anika was overwhelmed as she saw him giving the chocolates to the kids and playing football with them, not caring about his expensive clothes.

As the sun set, he knew he had to depart. Unwillingly they bid bye to each other with a secret wish in their hearts to meet once again. Days passed, so did the two of them passed the phase of strangers and entered the phase of friendship.

"Shivaay, can I share something with you ?" Asked Anika hesitatingly and he nodded.

"This orphanage isn't what it looks like. The people here, I mean the staff here isn't what they show to the world. When I used to live here they used to beat us and make us do all the work. They used to lock us in dark rooms if we used to make even a small mistake. But now they have crossed all the limits of cruelty. They... they are playing with the future of the kids for their own selfish motives. They're involved in... human trafficking, especially of girls. They send them to other countries after the age of thirteen." Said Anika and Shivaay's eyes widened. He couldn't believe that someone could stoop so low for money. His heart trembled with anger when he got to know how much she suffered.

"You don't believe me, right ?" Asked Anika being disappointed when he didn't respond to her words.

"No. I do trust you. Infact, now I understood why they didn't want to sell this orphanage to me. They didn't agree to send these kids to the school even when I was ready to sponsor their education. They didn't even talk to me properly." Shivaay stated the real reason of him being silent.

"If you knew then why didn't you complain to the police till now ?" He asked and she chuckled making him confused. "As if I wouldn't have done that. Police didn't listen to me. Inspector Vijay Chaudhari, he assured me that he will help me. I trusted him and gave all the proofs to him but he was one of these filthy people." Said Anika and for the first time, Shivaay saw her innocent eyes blazing with agony that scared him.

"Bhaiya, please play with us." They heard a boy who came towards them and dragged Shivaay with him before he could deny. They played and danced happily. Shivaay gestured Anika to come and join them. She stood in the center as Shivaay and the kids danced around her in circles. That was the moment when he realised that she has actually become the center of his world, his happiness.

Shivaay saw a few little girls sitting a little away from them. He went towards them and asked about the reason of them being so quiet and not playing like the other kids. "We are missing our Di. She used to come to meet us everyday but now she doesn't come to meet us." One of them replied and he smiled at her. "May be she is busy. Once she will finish her work she will come back. And she will not like if you all would be sad like this, so smile, ok ?" Shivaay said and the girls nodded smilingly. They ran away to play and Shivaay returned to the bench where Anika was sitting.

"What were you talking about to those girls ?" Asked Anika as he sat beside her. "Actually I was just asking why they were sad." He replied making her curious to know the reason.

"They said they were missing their favourite Di who used to come to meet them and now she doesn't visit them. I just told them that she must be busy and that, once she finishes her work she will come and meet them." Shivaay answered her unasked question and she smiled faintly.

"May be she is bad and she will never come to meet them again." Said Anika, making him confused. She shrugged it off when he looked at her for explanation.

"So, I will go and talk to the commissioner about this matter. But how will we collect the proofs regarding this matter ?" He asked her once the kids left from there.

"They are planning to send some girls to the middle eastern countries tomorrow evening. They will take the girls to a godown near the railway station. Some girls are already there and a few will be taken from here next morning. That is the only time and place when you can save those girls." Said Anika and Shivaay immidiately called the commissioner.

It was a nightmare for a person like Shivaay to see such cruelty infront of his eyes. Early in the morning Anika took him to a corner from where they could see what was happening inside the orphanage. All the girls were beaten up by the warden badly. They were given drugs so that they won't shout for help. Shivaay recorded the whole scenario in his phone because they couldn't go inside without any proper back up.

Shivaay left from there to meet the commissioner and show to him the proofs. Anika said that she will stay here and keep an eyes on these people. He didn't want to leave her there, his heart wasn't allowing him to go but she insisted and he left.

The police followed the vans that exited the orphanage and they reached the godown. All the girls were rescued and sent to hospital as they were drugged.

The police arrested all the people including Vijay for doing such a heinous crime. A constable suddenly slapped inspector Vijay, so furiously that his tooth broke and he fell down on the ground.

"As you sow so shall you reap. You did so bad with that innocent girl. She trusted you and gave all the proofs to you but you killed her. You crossed all the limits of cruelty. You are an animal." Said a middle aged constable and spat on Vijay's face.

"Sir, you are an influential businessman. I request you sir, this man should be hanged, not only for human trafficking, but for killing an innocent and pure hearted girl. I was a coward who couldn't save her. Had I taken a step that day, that angel would've been alive today. I'm also a killer sir, I'm also a killer." The constable, Raheem , cried infront of Shivaay and the commissioner, making the commissioner confused and Shivaay, restless.

"W..which girl ? What...what are you saying ?" Shivaay asked and prayed to God that, what he was thinking shouldn't be true.

"Four weeks ago, a girl came to the police station to file a complaint against the orphanage staff. She had all the proofs with her. Vijay promised her to take action against those people. He even made a few calls infront of her, or should I say, he pretended to make calls to gain her trust. That pure soul trusted him and gave all the proofs to but he destroyed those videos and not only that, he... called her behind that orphanage near the lake and... killed her mercilessly. I couldn't do anything except for burying her dead body near the lake." Raheem fell on the floor as he cried for being a coward all these days.

Shivaay was standing like a statue. He felt his surroundings revolving around him. He couldn't believe what he just heard. More than anything else, he had fear. He had the fear of loosing his love. He had the fear of loosing the one who taught him to love, who made him a better person.

He ran from there as fast as he could. He was so scared that he didn't realise that he had a car. Instead, he ran through the busy roads like a maniac and went to the orphanage. He was going towards the lake when he spotted those little girls again.

"Dear, that..that day I asked you why you were sad and you told me about your favourite Di. What was her name ?" Shivaay asked the little girl who replied to him that day. He was trying to find something which didn't exist at the first place, hope.

"Anika didi." The girl replied innocently. What an irony ? Shivaay's question aroused hope in the little girls that may be he brought their Anika didi back and the girl's answer crashed his hope.

"Until people like you still exist in this world and the people who want to save someone's life are safe, it's safe to roam like this."

"I used to live in this orphanage."

"That is the only time and place when you can save those girls."

"We are missing our Di. She used to come to meet us everyday but now she doesn't come to meet us."

"May be she is bad and she will not come to meet them again."

The kids dancing with him. They always called him to play with them, not Anika.

All the happenings were revolving in his mind. The realisation, the reality hit him like a storm. He rushed towards the lake as fast as he could. His steps halted only when he saw her standing at him. She was smiling, as if she knew his dilemmas. He went towards her slowly so as to live in an illusion forever, so that he doesn't have to face the reality.

He tried to touch her but he couldn't. She was just smiling. She knew that he knows everything now. Only he could see the sadness behind that smile. She had to leave him now. Earlier, she couldn't go because she had a purpose, she wanted to save those innocent kids. But now, she had to go.

She was alone from her childhood. No family, no friends. She wanted to save these children from the cruelty of those devils even if it cost her, her life. But destiny played such a cruel game with her. Not only she lost her life, but also snatched a chance to have a companion, his love and care. First time ever she wished to live a little more for her own self but until then, she had lost her life.

"Won't you bid me a good bye, for the last time, Shivaay ?" She asked as he kept staring her and his eyes were shedding tears.

"I'm sorry, for having kept you in darkness all these days. I told you, that the girl about whom those little girls were talking is bad, and look, she even played with your emotions, your goodness." She said and she felt as if her already dead heart would die again.

"Don't... don't you dare say anything about my Anika. She's the most beautiful and pure soul I've ever met, ever seen. The grudge is not against you, but against him (he pointed towards the sky), who killed you and not those filthy animals in disguise of humans. The grudge is against that God who wrote in my destiny to meet you so late. I wish I was with you a little earlier. I wish I could spend more time with you, perhaps whole of my life. I wish I could hug you and tell you that... I love you. You taught me to love and now, he is snatching you from me." Shivaay said and his voice failed to come out of his mouth as his tears flowed uncontrollably now. His feet denied to support him and he fell down on the ground on his knees.

"You.. love me ?" She could manage to ask this question with a lot of difficulty as she tried to touch him. From the time she died, for the first time she was cursing the almighty for doing this to her. More than that, she cursed the almighty for doing this to him.

"Please don't cry. I won't be able to go seeing you like this. I can't see my love in pain." She said, sitting infront of him.

What if they couldn't touch each other, two souls who are truly in love, do not need any physical touch to feel that love.

"You truly love me, right ? (He nodded, like an innocent kid) Then let me go. I'll be with you, always. This lake, this bridge, this garden will always keep me close to your heart. Come with me." She said and he followed her towards the farthest end of the garden.

"I never liked this place. I used to be a lover of flowers and greenery so I never liked it. (She chuckled) And someone buried me here after my death. I won't be able to stay here alone. Moreover, I won't be able to be in peace even after my death if you would be sad. My death is just the departure of my body, you have captivated my soul in the cage of your love. I'll always wait for you here. You can come and talk to me, shout when you're angry, share your daily routine with me. The only thing you're not allowed to do is crying while remembering me. Don't you ever let me be the reason of your tears, it'll hurt me, Shivaay. Please stay happy. Your smile will be my solace. I want you to move on. And please take care of these kids. I know you will. I love you. If our love is true we will meet again. When, where and how ? I don't know but we will meet." Anika said and disappeared slowly in the white heavenly light.

Rikara was shocked and her tears were not ready to stop as such a pure love story remained incomplete.

"No, Riku. Don't be sad. Our story isn't incomplete. My Anika never left me. She was always with me, she is with me and she will be, always." Said Shivaay as if he read her mind and wiped Riku's tears. He held her hand and took her to the same corner of the garden where Anika was buried. Her name was written on the grave as the place was filled with colourful flowers.

"Do you know, there was a time when this place was barren. After Anika's burial this place became like this, full of colorful, fragrant flowers. Even after death she is spreading beauty and purity." Said Shivaay as he caressed those soft jasmine and then roses.

"But she asked you to move on. You fulfilled all her wishes. You took care of this orphanage, you didn't shed a single tear when I myself was crying, then why didn't you fulfill this wish of hers ?" Asked Rikara looking at him as he was still smiling looking at the newly blooming flowers. He smiled more when she asked this question.

"Moving on doesn't always mean to get married to someone other than the one you love. Moving on also means to not cry over what you lost and to embrace what you are left with." Shivaay answered and Rikara looked at him with eyes filled with proud and admiration. She used to respect him the most because he was hard working, kind, loving, helpful, encouraging, full of positivity and much more. But today he presented altogether a different picture of love to her.

"She never left me alone, nor she let me feel the emptiness in my life. This orphanage became my home, taking care of it my purpose and this place became my solace. I'm just waiting to meet her, I'm sure she is also waiting for me. I never felt that our love remained incomplete. This separation of our bodies and oneness of our souls makes me feel that our love is eternal." Shivaay said and caressed his heart that started pounding fiercely as usual.

"Khuda ne meri zindagi chheen kar mujhe aapke pyaar se nawaza. Mujhse khushnaseeb kaun hoga, jise aapne apni har saans mein zinda rakha. Shukriya, Shivaay ! Maine aapki aankhon mein apne liye pyaar hi nahi dekha, aapki nazron se duniya dekhi hai, zindagi jee hai."

He closed his eyes and he felt as if she just walked past him. He followed what his heart said and stood over the bridge and smiled as he heard her soothing voice.
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Hope it was good enough to touch your hearts. Do tell me your reviews through your comments and press the star button.

Love you all a lot 💖💖💖